UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPRESS RELEASE

Geoffrey Pyatt Sworn In as New U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

On Tuesday, July 30, 2013 His Grace Bishop Daniel and representatives of Ukrainian-American community traveled to the U. S. Department of State in Washington, DC in order to participate in the solemn Oath of Office ceremony, as Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt was sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

With over two hundred and fifty people in attendance and in the presence of a dozen of foreign ambassadors to the United States of America and various Ambassadors of the US government to foreign nations, the US Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns administered the oath of office.

Ambassador Pyatt’s Oath of Office was administered in the presence of his wife, children and parents.

Prior to the oath, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns offered his remarks about the post entrusted to the new ambassador. Speaking as a longtime colleague, Deputy Secretary Burns mentioned the crucial period that Ambassador Pyatt will be witnessing as he assumes his responsibilities in Ukraine.

Following the Oath of Office, Ambassador Pyatt began his remarks by thanking his family and everyone involved with his nomination, and underlining that there is "no higher honor" that he could receive. He also offered a short reflection about responsibilities that lay ahead of him. The new ambassador spoke about his goals while in Ukraine and noted that he wishes "to see Ukraine succeed and realize its full potential as a democratic, market economy - which is in the interests of Ukraine and of the United States and European Union."

The ambassador in his remarks resembled the words of his predecessors: "I look forward to this opportunity to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and believe this is a critical moment for Ukraine in its long struggle to be a strong independent country in charge of its own destiny.”

With a round of applause from the assembled audience, foreign diplomats and guests began to line up to congratulate the newly sworn-in ambassador and wish him success in his endeavors in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Orthodox community was represented by His Grace Bishop Daniel, President of the Consistory and Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA, and Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas, Assistant to the Bishop.

Ambassador Pyatt will soon leave the U.S. to assume his new duties in Ukraine.